Indianapolis: Dixon Dispatch

The Dixon Dispatch
The Weekly News Release of Larry Dixon & the Miller Lite Dragster

Snake Racing Overall Wins at U.S. Nationals

Don Prudhomme- 7 wins (1965, 69, 70, 73, 74, 77, 89)
Larry Dixon- 1 win (1995)
Dick LaHaie- 2 runner-ups (1987, 89)
Ed McCulloch- 6 wins (1971, 72, 80, 88, 90, 92)
Total Indy wins for Snake Racing Team members = 14

Mac Tools U.S. Nationals More Than Just Another Points Earning Race For Top Fuel Leader Larry Dixon And Miller Lite Dragster

INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 28) - Larry Dixon and Don Prudhomme's Miller Lite Dragster have had a pretty good season so far. They currently sit atop the Top Fuel point standings after compiling a season record of 40 wins and 13 losses and have won four out of their six final round appearances.

The Miller Lite Team is averaging a No. 3 qualifying position and have reached the semifinals at 13 of the 17 races this season.

But none of those impressive numbers are the focal point for Dixon this weekend as the NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series returns to Indianapolis Raceway Park (Aug. 31-Sept. 3) for the grand daddy of all drag races-the 47th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.

"Forget about the hype of the points race for this week, because we are going to Indy," said Dixon. "For drag racers, this is the most important race of the year. This is the one race that every driver and every team wants to win. To have an opportunity to be a part of a team that has a chance to win at Indy is awesome."

Dixon knows firsthand what that feeling is like. While he never saw his father Larry Sr. claim a Top Fuel win at Indy after several semifinal round appearances, Dixon later enjoyed trips to IRP's winner's circle both at a crewman for Prudhomme (1989) and again as a driver during his 1995 Rookie of the Year campaign.

"Once you have won at Indy, you get the feeling that you can win every time you race there. And when you don't, you are really disappointed."

Dixon, who lives in the Indianapolis suburb of Avon, also knows what it feels like to have a very bad outing at Indy as he has seen his team's fail to qualify on two separate occasions.

"I remember when I worked on Snake's crew in 1989 when he won with the Funny Car, then we came back with the Top Fuel Dragster in 1990 and did not qualify. It was a similar scenario for me in 1999. We had just won at Brainerd the race before and then didn't qualify at Indy. It was really difficult, but that's what makes racing at Indy so important."

"You remember everything that happens here," said Dixon. "Indianapolis is the single most important drag race ever." <pre> Larry Dixon's Career Results in Indianapolis

Year  Event             Qual.           Finish & Winning Driver
1995  US Nationals      No. 12          WON- B. Vandergriff
1996  US Nationals      No. 9           2nd round-T. Schumacher
1997  US Nationals      No. 4           1st round-R. Hartman
1998  US Nationals      No. 1           2nd round-G. Scelzi
1999  US Nationals      DNQ
2000  US Nationals      No. 5           2nd round-Schumacher

2001 NHRA Winston Top Fuel Point Standings 1. LARRY DIXON 1412 n/a 2. Kenny Bernstein 1404 8 out 3. Doug Kalitta 1154 258 out 4. Gary Scelzi 1132 280 out 5. Mike Dunn 1100 312 out 6. Darrell Russell 1091 321 out 7. Doug Herbert 933 479 out 8. Tony Schumacher 861 551 out 9. David Grubnic 727 685 out 10. Rhonda Hartman 601 811 out

Larry Dixon Appearance & Racing Schedule

Below is the tentative schedule for Larry Dixon for this weekend's 47th Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.

Date & Time             Location
Fri, 8/31 730p          Qualifying session #1
Sat, 9/1  230-730p      Qualifying sessions #2 & #3
Sun, 9/2  1245-435p     Qualifying sessions #4 & #5
Mon, 9/3  1030a         Final eliminations

NHRA on Television This Weekend

Date & Time (ET)       Network  Coverage
Sept. 1, Noon-200p     ESPN 2   Qualifying
Sept. 2, 100-230p      ESPN 2   Qualifying
Sept. 3, 1100a-100p    ESPN 2   Eliminations
Sept. 3, 400-700p      ESPN     Eliminations

-www.snakeracing.com